Hawahan guitar volume control arm



May 22, 1956 .1. PENEWELL 2,746,333

HAWAIIAN GUITAR VOLUME CONTROL ARM Filed Dec. 21, 1950 IN VENTOR. .9

ATTORNEYS United States Patent HAWAIIAN GUITAR VOLUME CONTROL ARM John Penewell, Madison, Wis. Application December 21, 1950, Serial No. 201,957

4 Claims. (Cl. 84-116) This invention relates to musical instruments of the electric fretted string instrument type where the volume control is regulated by a standardround knob or button such as the Hawaiian electric guitar, Spanish guitar, banjo and ukelele, and in particular this. invention includes a comparatively small arm positioned on the outer end of the volume control shaft whereby, with the instrument played by the right hand of a musician the volume control is operated continuously by the small finger of the hand.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for actuating the volume control of an instrument of the electric fretted string type as the instrument is played.

Hawaiian electric guitars and other electric fretted string instruments of this type are provided with a volume control button, as illustrated in Patent No. 2,089,171, and the button actuates a rheostat or other volume control device in the instrument and in order to operate the control it is necessary to stop playing so that the button or knob may be turned by the thumb and forefinger of the hand with which the instrument is played.

With this thought in mind this invention contemplates providing an extension or arm on a hub that is designed to replace the usual knob or button on the end of the control shaft whereby with the arm extended toward the outer edge of the instrument or away from the strings it may readily be actuated to control the volume by the small finger of the hand playing the instrument.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for providing an extension on the volume control knob of electric fretted string instruments to facilitate actuating the control so that the volume may be adjusted as the instrument is played.

Another object of the invention is to provide a volume control device for electric fretted string instruments that may be attached to instruments now in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the volume of electric fretted string instruments may be controlled as the instrument is played which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a hub formed to be mounted on the end of a volume control shaft of an electric fretted string instrument with an arm having a recess in the upper surface extended from the hub and with means for attaching the hub to the shaft of the volume control.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the body of an electric guitar with an arm extended from a hub on the volume control shaft shown in full lines in the intermediate position and in dotted lines in low and high volume positions.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale, of the arm and mounting hub with the body of the guitar broken away.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the arm and mounting elements being taken on line 33 of Fig. l.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the volume control arm showing a modification wherein an arm of a different design is used.

Figure 5 is a combination elevation and sectional view of the arm shown in Fig. 4 being taken on line 55 thereof.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved vol? ume control device of this invention includes an arm 10 mounted upon and extended from a'hub 11' with the arm provided with a finger receiving recess 12 and with the hub provided with a bore 13 that receives the end of a shaft 14 that may extend from a volume control device in a body 15 of an electric fretted: string instrument, such as a Hawaiian electric guitar.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the hub 11 may be provided with a set screw 16 by which. the positionof the arm 10 is adjusted on the shaft 14 and a counter. bore 17 isprovided inthe outer end of the hub in which a plastic cover 18, that may be provided in different colors is positioned. The inner end of the hub may also be provided with a counter bore 19 to provide clearance for the end of a sleeve from which the shaft 14 extends.

In the illustration of the volume control arm in Fig. l the arm is shown in full lines in an intermediate or medium volume control position and in dotted lines in low and high positions as indicated by the lines 20 and 21, respectively.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 an arm 22 with a finger receiving recess 23 therein extends from one side of a hub or button 24 and the hub is provided with a bore 25 that receives the end of the shaft 14. The hub 24 is provided with a set screw 26 for securing the arm in adjusted positions on the shaft.

It will be understood that the arm 10 and mounting hub may be formed in various designs, particularly, to correspond with the type of instrument upon which the device is used.

It will be understood that the improved volume control arm may be used on instruments of different types and designs and other means may be used for adjustably mounting the arm on the volume control shaft of the instrument.

It will also be understood that other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A volume control device for use on volume control shafts extended from musical instruments comprising a hub having a shaft receiving bore therein and an arm with a finger receiving recess in the upper surface extended from one side thereof, a set screw threaded in said hub and positioned to retain the hub in adjusted positions on the volume control shaft extended into the bore thereof, said hub having a counter bore in the outer surface and positioned around the bore therein, and a plastic cover positioned in the said counter bore for covering the end of said volume control shaft.

2. In a volume control device for use on volume control shafts extended from electric fretted string instruments, the combination which comprises an instrument body, a volume control shaft extended from the upper surface of the body of the instrument, a hub having an arm extended from one side thereof mounted on the said volume control shaft, said hub having a bore therethrough into which the end of the said volume control shaft extends and a counterbore in the outer surface and positioned around the bore, said arm having a finger receiving recess in the upper surface, a plastic cover positioned in the counter bore in the outer end of the hub providing protecting means for the end of the volume control shaft,

and a set screw threaded in the hub and positioned to engage the shaft extended into the bore thereof.

3. A volume control device for an electric string instrument, comprising an insrtument body, a volume control shaft extending upwardly from the upper surfacetofthe instrument body, a hub having one end extended from one side thereof, said hub having a bore extended therethrough for the projection therethrough of the end of the volume control shaft, said hub having a counterbore in its outer surface communicating with said bore, said arm having a finger receiving recess in its upper surface, a cover snugly positioned in said counterbore and providing protecting means for the end of the volume control shaft, and a set screw threaded in said hub and engaging said volume control shaft, there being a counte'rbore in the lower surface of said hub communicating with said bore.

. 4. In a volume control device, a volume control shaft, a hub having an arm of reduced size extended from one side thereof, said hub having a bore extended therethrough for the projection therethrough of the end of the volume control shaft, said hub having a counterbore in its outer surface communicating with said bore, said arm having a finger receiving recess in its upper surface, a cover snugly positioned in said counterbore and providing protecting means for the end of the volume control shaft, and a set screw threaded in said hub and engaging said volume control shaft, said set screw being arranged at right angles to said bore, there being a counterbore in the lower surface of said hub communicating with said bore, said cover being positioned above the upper surface of said arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 867,981 Krizek Oct. 15, 1907 1,179,499 Bohrnann Apr. 18, 1916 1,930,980 Maibohm Oct. 17, 1933 2,087,106 Hart July 13, 1937 2,207,341 Dickerson July 9, 1940 2,211,818 Innis .Aug. 20, 1940 r 2,486,263 De Armond .Oct.'25, 1949 2,500,172 Gillenwater Mar. 14, 1950 2,530,298 Harper Nov. 14, 1950 2,549,914 McBride Apr. 24, 1951 Goldberg Ian. 15, 1952 

